A View from Sierra County

Christmas Is Coming Faster Than I Am Knitting

I have one more Christmas stocking class to teach, on the Monday evening following Thanksgiving, and by that point, stocking number one, for baby Odessa, will be complete and hopefully stocking number two, for Mason (my step-grandson, who is five), well on the way.  I think there might only be one more holiday gift to knit after that, though I do often have a way of increasing my own burdens..... 

Here's Odessa's Snowman stocking:

As you can see, the 'leg' portion of the stocking is worked back and forth, an easy way for new color knitters to concentrate on both the fair isle borders and the intarsia design in the middle without needing to think about taking up their double points. Yet. I am not sure if I will do the second design in this manner... I had already made many socks and didn't feel I really needed to knit the pattern this way, but it did help my students. They got down the leg in plenty of time, and then tackled heels last Monday, one for the first time ever. Turning a heel makes sense, after you have done it.  Once the heel flap was completed, the Christmas socks turned into DP, in the round projects, and now my students are working towards the toe over the Thanksgiving week.  I love using this rustic Bartlett yarn, but scrounged through my stash to come up with wools for sock number two, since my goal is still to use my stash as much as possible before resorting to making any new yarn purchases.  I haven't decided what design Mason's will have, but am leaning towards making a Christmas tree on his.  As you probably hear regularly on the news, money is still very tight here in California, especially for a marginally-employed teacher with no teaching jobs in sight.

I do like how working the chart upside down from the top to the heel resulted in the candle flames going the right direction... something I might have missed on my own.  I do generally have a fine attention to detail, but sometimes little things like that don't hit me until too late.  In this case, I will go back at the third class and teach the students to mattress-seam up the back of their sock, duplicate stitch in my snowman's arms, embroider on a smile and eyes, and sew small black buttons up his front.  Other Bully Woolies designs include a kitty, a Christmas tree with french knotted ornaments, a lighthouse, a poinsettia (lovely!), Baa Humbug sheep (for your knitting Secret Pal!), candies, and several other great holiday themes.  There's still plenty of time for you to whip up a stocking for someone special, and if you haven't gotten inspired by this list, check out Ravelry for a wealth of other design ideas.

My other class, taught on Saturday, covered the basics of making Mitered Squares, and offered several design inspirations.   It was a big success, with eight students crowding around the front table at Fibers, and almost all feeling that they were well on their way when we finished... one was a beginning knitter who was also happy at the end, because even though she was unsure if she could continue on her own, she was attending with her friend and personal knitting coach, who did 'get it', and knew she would have the help she needed.  

Some of you may have been wondering what has happened with my own mitered square project, the Fiesta Friendship Shawl.  I haven't featured any new photos because they look so much like the old photos!  However, I have finished the fourth large diamond, and decided that would be long enough for a short person like me.  Now, I am filling in with smaller diamonds for the two rows needed to get to the top of that large diamond, and will then finish off with a row of small triangles to make a straight edge.  It does look likely that I will finish this soon, though I am easily distracted by the thought of starting several other new projects ("aw, come on, couldn't I just slip in that cowl, and oh, how about those mitts, and then I will come back and finish my shawl!  Oh, wait, those slippers look cute....")  I am debating about whether I need/want to crochet an edging around the finished shawl to tie all the colors together, and will take a photo soon so that I can gather input from all of you, my knowledgeable and helpful fellow knitters.

I also got a chance last week to go up to Downieville and visit with Shelly, the winner of my birthday contest, and deliver her prize:

She won this cute little Krafter's Purse, filled with Allison's Socksational hand-dyed yarn in pastel rainbow shades, and a candy cane Lantern Moon tape measure. 

Megan, your prize is also on its way to you, thanks to my SIL, who manages the Lafayette Book Store... happy shopping! 

Now, I have to confess that I have not been a very diligent blogger, or I would have photographed the three great afghans that Shelly has been crocheting; my excuse could be that the recipients of these cozy and wonderful gifts, in colors tailored to their personal favorites, might have been able to find out... not that any of them read my blog! Suffice to say that Shelly, who runs a family daycare home, has been able to finish two of her three gift afghans over the course of the fall, while her charges nap in the afternoon, and has already started on something with her gift yarn. Too bad she is blogless; we could all follow her progress if she blogged.  I couldn't get a photo of the two of us together, either, since the oldest potential photographer just turned four, and I wasn't ready to entrust my camera to him!

This Thanksgiving week, I will be planning to cook, eat two dinners (one on Thanksgiving in Lake Tahoe with Glenn's parents and our two oldest sons, and the other next Saturday, cooked by DD and myself for the bulk of our immediate family), take pictures, catch up with family, knit, hike and play with my grandbaby.  I wish the same joy for all of you.

Thankful Thursday the Third

I am an animal person.  I have always had pets, back all the way to the little daschund puppy we had as kids.  Today, I want to share how thankful I am to have gotten live at various times with nine different non-human species... a total of many pets.  I believe that living with other species reminds us that the world is not all about us humans.  All had lessons to teach me and brought joy and richness to my life.  I am not including much about the wild species that I share my land with, but that list has included bear, grey fox, coyote, raccoon, skunk, snake, mole, vole, squirrel, bobcat, lynx, wild turkey and a multitude of other birds.

I had fun making up this list to share with you and would love to hear what other species you have lived with.

* Dogs - many, almost always; probably more a dog person than a cat one.  Jake and Elwood, Norfolk terrier brothers, are our two current dog buddies and they like me to take them on walks.  They look out for each other and dogs are always ready to give and receive love.

* Cats - I wasn't allowed to have cats growing up (family allergies) so one of my first act of rebellion after leaving home was to get a cat.  At least one has shared my space ever since.  I like how independent they are.  The two that lived the longest were both 'feral', and kept a good hunting sense about them until very old... they are really only living next to me and not with me.  My current kitty is a 10-year old female calico, who was rescued out from under an abandoned building when just a wee kit by my youngest son.... she has held her own in a semi-wild neighborhood for years.

* Birds - parakeets and finches, though I don't keep them any longer as the climate here in a 155-year old house in the Sierra foothills really is too cold in winter for such birds to thrive

* Chickens - they are far enough away from the above-mentioned tiny birds to qualify as a distinct sub-species.  Chickens are very entertaining and they feed us!

* Rabbits - we had two different house rabbits live with us over the years, DD being especially attracted to them.  I have always been the first one in the household up in the morning (like my father before me) and used to get Pearl out of her cage and bring her in the kitchen with me... her leaps for joy brightened each and every day and reminded me that if I looked, there was always something to be happy about.

* Turtles - both the little pet shop ones and a western pond turtle, rescued after a period of flooding and kept until we could find a proper park with a very large pond to return it to...

* Fish - I have a koi pond and am grateful to these beautiful creatures for allowing me to feed them in order to view their flashing colors.

* Rat - this pet was dear youngest son's birthday wish, back when he was about 12... once again, the early-rising mama often got quality time with the rat who loved to be placed in the pocket of my robe or walk around riding on my shoulder.  Our rat lived a long life as far as his species is concerned and we enjoyed how companionable he was.

* Burros - as many of you already know, I have kept a total of six burros over the past six years.  I also lived on land with a retired pair, back when I was 20.  They are endearing, affectionate, and like to hike.

Recent Knitting, Modeled

I have been remiss about keeping all of you apprised of my knitting activity!  I have been working on the Fiesta Friendship Shawl for so very long now that it is no longer exciting, to me or to you!  I could probably have completed at least a handful of individual socks by now, though who's keeping track of yardage... certainly not me:)  There are still about two dozen diamonds to put in place before I can start on the finish row of gobs of triangles.... it'll be awhile yet!

I am teaching two knitting classes at Fibers this fall: a Christmas Stocking class that covers a multitude of skills over three sessions, and a class next Saturday morning teaching some of those modular skills.  I will show how to make a basic double-decrease diamond, how to connect two diamonds, and how to make a filler triangle, as well as discuss the range of possibilities that opens up to the creative patchwork knitting artist.  There's still time to enroll by calling (530)272-9276.

The sample Christmas stocking I am working on will be for baby Odessa, of course... and features bands of fair isle representing candles and an intarsia snowman in the middle.  Lots of fun techniques are covered in this three-part class.  The first covered the color knitting, and last night's covered turning a heel.  I promise to post a photo very soon, as mine is past the heel now and heading towards the toe.  The kits our students are using, from Bully Woolies, feature the rustic Bartlett yarns I used to use to make boot socks for DH 15 or more years ago... nice rugged wool that is making me kinda nostalgic.

My problem with pictures stems from how short the day length is these days, and how my work days have gotten longer... I do want to share a photo of a very cute baby set I finished last month, just in time, as you will see!  Here's Odessa, who just turned 2 months old on Sunday, looking very pretty, of course! 

Thankful Thursday: Round Two

I am so very fortunate to live in a beautiful part of the world, and to spend time outside each and every day, no matter the weather.  It has grounded me with a deep appreciation for natural beauty and a humbling sense of how small and impermanent I really am.  This view of the Sierra Buttes on a fall day, heading into winter seemed an appropriate photographic rendition of my gratitude.

Announcing The Winners

Last month, I asked a very personal, and possibly difficult, question as a requirement to enter my Birthday Contest.  The entries came in slowly, but steadily, thanks to several bloggers who shared what I was doing with their audiences.  They gradually sorted themselves out into a few major categories... births, deaths, illness, marriage, transforming moments.  Some were far more moving than others, but all reflected the human experience, something we each share though it happens to us on our own terms and timetables.  We may not have the same illness, lose a parent at the same point in life, or even discover the love of our life at the same decade in life, but we do share many of these experiences over the course of each lifetime.

I am honored to be entrusted with so many great stories, and plan to share them in a few clusters over the next month.  Of course, it was very difficult selecting a first and second place winner for this contest, even when eliminating several 'also-rans'.... and somehow, using a random number generator didn't feel right either.  That is why it is so late in the day, on the day that I promised to announce the winners.  I have read and re-read each story, thinking about the writing and how each moved me in different ways, and finally went with the humanness of the recounting, the lessons the author wanted to share with all of us reader, and the feelings that these two stories gave me:

The first place winner, who will receive a special package of hand-dyed yarn, cute little tote and tape measure, put together on Friday while I was working at Fibers (it's already too dark to take a photo, but I will...soon), is blogless Shelly F:

 "I read your life changing time and the others listed. Mine started out that way. I was in labor for 4 days with my first son, what a little man he was! Then I gave birth to my second son, Jesse. These two boys saved my life, really! Like you, I didnt want to be reckless. If a car was getting to close to me on the highway, I prayed that I would be ok because I was James and Jesse's mama!! 

The time that stands out most in my life is April 7, 2008. I got a call at 1am. Jesse was on the phone all in a panic! He had been drinking too much, which he has a problem with at only 23 years old. He told me franickly to call 911. He had tried to commit suicide!! He had stabbed himself in the stomach 7 times. He was airlifted to Washoe and I made it there in 1 1/2 hours from Downieville. I was beside myself, I prayed the entire way! He was in surgery when I arrived and I waited in his room to be. Trust me, this wait was more painful than labor. They wheeled him in, told me his body will be fine, he missed everything! So, I sat and watched Jesse sleep. At that time, I loved him more than any other time of his life. I was so thankful that he was alive, so worried as to what brought him to this desperate point, how did I miss the signs?? I prayed and crocheted and prayed and crocheted. I sat with Jesse for 4 days, never left the hospital. I had the same clothes on the entire time. I was NOT going to leave my baby. I talked and talked with him. We got help for him and he is on the road to recovery. He isnt all the way there yet, but he is working hard on it. 

I guess my point of telling this story isnt to make anyone sad, it is to tell people to not take one day for granted. Not one. Love those around you and turn away from the dirty dishes and laundry, sit on the floor and PLAY with the ones you love. Enjoy them to the fullest. Listen to them about the silliest things even when you are running out the door late. This with Jesse was a complete surprise!! Jesse turned 25 on Oct 1st. I sent him 4 - $25 gift cards to ToysRus. He loved them, said he went and bought himself a remote control car. (kid at heart) I sure do love that boy, more every day."

Shelly expressed one of the guiding principles in my life... to live in and for the moment, knowing that is all we really have.  That doesn't mean I don't plan ahead, save for the future and treasure the past, but it does mean that I try to let the past failings and injuries fall away quickly, and move forward with joy every day, looking for the happiest and richest way to apply my energy.  It's always a process, and some days are less successful than others, but I do agree with Shelly, treasure the moment and play with those you love!  Thanks, Shelly.

The second place prize, a $25 gift certificate to Lafayette Book Store, goes to Meg, who did such an excellent job describing how a simple gift, given in the moment by her mother, affected her lifelong philosophy:

"When I thought of a life changing event I first thought of the fall of 2001 when life was so so hard. But then I remembered the event that taught me the resilience to get through those tough times.  I was 9 years old. My family was very,very poor and were getting evicted from our home. My parents have four daughters and there was never enough money. My mom and I walked to the hardware store to buy a lightbulb. In the store was a man with large pack, a walking stick and looking scruffy with beard. He was asking the clerks how to get to New Haven (about 8 miles away from my town). He said his daughter was in the hospital and he been walking for days and days trying to get to her. The clerks wouldn't help him and threw him out. As my mom and I left the store she pressed a few dollars in my hand and told me to run after him. She told me to tell him it was all that we had but he could wait right where he was for a bus. I ran across the parking lot and gave him the money and the message. He started crying and so did I. He took my hands and thanked me and said he would pray for us over his fire that night. 

The next day my parents found a wonderful, huge house by the ocean that we could afford. And I learned that no matter what, there is always a capacity to give despite what I think my circumstances are. I also learned not be afraid of those who need help or to feel pity, we are always one step away from walking in someone else's shoes. It's a set of lessons I have kept with me in the 21 years since and a lesson I teach to my husband, kids, family and friends by example whenever I can."

I was deeply moved by her statement that we always have the capacity to give... if we all started each day with that thought in mind, and took a step to give help to someone else, each and every day, just think of the changes we could create.  Thanks for the inspiration, Meg.

There are more powerful stories to share, and I hope you will come back soon to read them.  Thanks to all who entered, and please, I hope nobody will feel hurt or left out that I didn't select you as a winner... each one of you is a winner for being willing to share your knowledge with the rest of us.

Thankful Thursday

Carole mentioned over the weekend that she was going to post Thankful Thursday lists this month.  I decided to join in because I have employed a gratitude practice off and on over the years...making lists in the evening of things I am grateful for.  Here's today's:

1.  The health and happiness that I have every day.

2.  My sweet husband Glenn.

3.  My wise, witty, clever and devoted children

4.  Living long enough to welcome my sweet, pretty granddaughter.